LITTLE ROCK — Governor Mike Beebe has named Ty Patterson of Texarkana as the newest commissioner of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Patterson will serve the remaining 16 months of a term vacated by the resignation of Rick Watkins. The announcement was held last week at the Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center in Little Rock.

“Ty has a lifetime of outdoor experience, particularly in Southwest Arkansas,” Beebe said. “His enthusiasm and experience will serve him well as he represents that region of our State on the commission.” Patterson is the second commissioner from Texarkana to serve. Henry Moore III was appointed in 1975.

Beebe pointed out that Patterson’s term, which is far short of the usual seven years, carries as much weight.

“It’s no less important, it’s no less significant and it’s no less an opportunity for you to leave your mark to help in conservation, to help in hunting and fishing, to help in young peoples’ education, to help across the board in this natural treasure we call Arkansas,” Beebe said. “I know from your background that you will do a great job.”

Patterson, 35, is a partner in the Orr/Patterson Automotive Group in Texarkana. “It truly is a dream come true for someone like myself who is passionate about hunting and fishing,” said Patterson, who’s among the youngest appointed commissioners. “I look forward to joining forces with current commissioners, the director and all the staff at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in an effort to protect and preserve the abundance of wildlife and natural habitat we have here in our state.

A graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Patterson grew up hunting and fishing in Southwest Arkansas. He is particularly fond of duck hunting and spring turkey hunting.

Along with current memberships in Ducks Unlimited and the National Wild Turkey Federation, Patterson is a board member of the First Tee of Texarkana and volunteers on committees for Opportunities, Inc.

Patterson’s term will expire July 1, 2014.

Volunteers put in trees, shrubs on Crooked Creek

HARMON — More than a dozen college students joined other volunteers and Arkansas Game and Fish Commission personnel on a chilly Saturday to plant about 400 trees and shrubs on flood-ravaged areas of two creeks in north Arkansas.

Most of the plantings were on Crooked Creek, the internationally renowned smallmouth bass fishery. The work was just north of the Harmon community in eastern Boone County. Other plantings were on Ponca Creek near the AGFC’s Ponca Elk Education Center.

The Crooked Creek work was part of a renovation project to counter damage done by flooding. Two years ago, another project helped with problems downstream on the creek near Yellville.

David Evans of the AGFC’s Stream Team was in charge of the work near Harmon. He said, “We planted a variety of trees and shrubs. Every species we put in produces nuts or berries. Which are very wildlife friendly.”

The plantings were done on the creek’s bank several feet above the water’s surface. Previous work had involved using heavy equipment to move large boulders and down trees into positions to help the creek’s flow and to restore habitat favorable to fish spawning.

Four students drove from Jonesboro to do the plantings. They were members of the Wildlife Club at Arkansas State University. A van full of University of Ozarks students came up from Clarksville for the planting activities. Hal Johnson came from Rogers, Eli Evans came from Harrison and Gwen Allison came from Guy to wield shovels.

The trees and shrubs were scattered along the creek with the various species spaced apart. Some of the species that went into the ground were black walnut, white oak, redbud, dogwood, serviceberry, beauty berry and catalpa.

Crooked Creek rises in northern Newton County, flows north through the middle of Harrison then turns east and meanders to the White River between Cotter and Buffalo City.

It is picturesque, and it is fish-rich. The smallmouth action has drawn anglers from near and far for generations, and this built the creek’s deserved reputation. Several other species are numerous and attractive to fishermen – largemouth bass and several members of the bream family plus channel catfish and flathead catfish.

Walleye daily limit is just four in White River lakes

LITTLE ROCK — It’s the walleye fishing time of the year for many Arkansas anglers, and they need to know the limits.

Walleye are found mostly in rivers but also in some lakes. Fishermen can keep six a day of any size with the exception of the five big lakes of the White River system.

These are Beaver, Table Rock, Bull Shoals, Norfork and Greers Ferry. Yes, Greers Ferry is an impoundment on the Little Red River, but it is part of the white River system.

On these lakes, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has reduced the daily limit to four walleye, and each fish must be 18 inches or longer to be kept.

In these White River lakes, the walleye can become large, all the way up to 22 pounds, 11 ounces, the Arkansas state record that came from Greers Ferry in 1982.

The reduced limit and length limit does not apply to another large lake, Ouachita, which has one of Arkansas’s better walleye prospects, especially on its upper end this time of the year. The reduced limit also does not apply on the White River outside of the five large lakes.

AGFC stocks more than 141,900 fish in Arkansas during January

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Game and Fish Commission crews stocked over 141,900 fish in Arkansas lakes and rivers during January, according to Mark Oliver, chief of the Fisheries Division. The total stocking of fish weighed more than 60,000 pounds.